Financial Management in the Voluntary Sector

Paul Palmer has published widely on, and worked extensively in, the field of charity finance. He is currently Head of the Centre for Charity and Trust Research at South Bank University, where he is also Charity Courses Director.Adrian Randall is an independent Charities Management Consultant, and is a nationally recognized leading expert on charity financial management. He has gained widespread experience of the sector through a variety of roles, and is currently a member of several groups and committees in the charity field.

' .. a good textbook for university courses concerned with charity finance; it aims to give the reader the resources for critical reflection on the issues and succeeds well in this ... For any independent examiner who wants some answers to the "why" questions in charity finance (not just some step by step "how to do it" advice), this book will be a vital resource.' - Independent Examiner Vol. 5:1

• Chapter 1 - Voluntary Sector Environment - definitions, history: Introduction, The Issue of Definition, The Legal Definition, Alternative Definitions, Are There Distinct Sectors? Religious Influences, The State and Charity, The Conservative Government 1979-1987, New Labour, Conclusion. Chapter 2 - Management Issues: Governance, The Charity Commission and Charity Trusteeship, Charity Organizations and Governance, The Role of the Charity Secretary, The Financial Management Role of the Management Committee, Internal Auditing, The Planning Process, Programme and Organizational Resource Assessment, Case Study, Questions, Analysis of case study, Providing Information, Sources of Information, Case Study/Role Play - Managing a Financial Crisis. Chapter 3 - Charity Accounts: the background: Introduction, Developments Leading to the Charities Acts 1992 and 1993, Charities Acts 1992 and 1993, Statement of Recommended practice (SORP), SORP aim, prescriptive approach, words, numbers, investements, overhead costs, summarised accounts, trading activities, branches, accounting concepts, 'light touch' approach, glossary, conclusion, Review of SORP, Charity Commission SORP Consultation, the changes, what's new, revised/extended, Charity Commission Aim, general principles, timing, Research on Charity Accounts and SORP Compliance. Chapter 4- Published Accounting Standards: Introduction, Stakeholder Reporting, Accounting for Smaller Charities, receipts and payments accounts, statement of assets and liabilities, notes to the accounts, accruals, change to basis of accounting, special aspects, Evaluation of the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA), disclosures, reasoning, format, Statement of Financial Activity - Example Arts Theatre Trust Limited, Balance Sheet, introduction, presentation, balance sheet example, checklist, Cashflow Statement, History, FRS1, SORP, exemptions, Example, Disclosure of Accounting Policies and Notes to the Accounts, introduction, accounting standards, accounting policies/notes, checklist (extract), Summary Financial Information and Statements, introduction, content, incorporated charities, other summary financial information, SORP Excercise, further information. Chapter 5 - Issues in Charity Accounts: Introduction, Fund Accounting, unrestricted income funds, designated funds, restricted funds, endowment funds, fund assets, accounts presentation, fund accounting SORP disclosure check list, Incoming Resources, introduction, conditions and restrictions, legacies, intangible income, gifts in kind, other income, netting off, Expenditure, introduction, grants, cost allocation, support costs, cost of generating funds, management and administration, conclusion, Trading-Operating Activites, introduction, check list, economic mix, Branches, introduction, definition, autonomous branch? accounting, role of branch treasures, overseas branches. Chapter 6- Regulatory Framework and Audit Requirements: Regulatory Framework, The Charity Audit - Some Important Aspects, introduction, requirements, some overall considerations, audit scope, audit should provide, fundamentals of an effective audit, auditing income, why are these questions important? auditing expenditure, audit evidence, internal controls, review of financial statements, going concern, statutary reports, summary financial information and statements, auditors statement to the trustees, respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors, basis of opinion, opinion, whistle blowing, audit management report, conclusion, Independent Examination, introduction, what is an independent examination? who can be an independent examiner? the independent examiner report conclusion, Trustees Annual Report, introduction, charities act 1993, regulations, SORP. Chapter 7 - Management Accounting for Voluntary Orgnizations: Introduction, Cost Accounting, costing a service, overhead costs, unit costs and analysis - a warning, activity based costing, cost behaviour, Example, answer, Breakeven An